Olympic figure skater Bradie Tennell gets a birthday surprise

Carpentersville’s Bradie Tennell will have a little slice of home when she competes at the Winter Olympics in South Korea this month. United Airlines surprised the figure skater on her birthday Wednesday (she turned 20) by informing her that the company is flying her family to Pyeongchang.

Before a United representative dropped the news, Tennell, her mother, Jean, and younger brothers Austin and Shane had been filming a video about a Go Fund Me campaign to raise $20,000 for the brothers’ tickets.

“Throughout my entire journey, my family has been my No. 1 supporter,” Tennell said. “These three were here every day while I was practicing, sitting up in the bleachers. And Shane, he would dance in the bleachers when I had music on, and you know it just made me laugh.”

After learning United was picking up the tab for her whole family, Tennell said, “Well, my mom is crying. I think they’re (her brothers) in shock a little bit, but I can’t believe it. I’m so incredibly grateful.”

The Go Fund Me page, organized by a family friend, had raised more than $11,000 as of Friday morning. The Skating Council of Illinois also has been taking donations on the Tennells’ behalf.

Tennell, who trains in Buffalo Grove, won her first U.S. women's figure skating title Jan. 5, and after competing in the Olympics she’ll be a special guest on the “Stars on Ice” tour when it stops at Allstate Arena on April 29.